Family Development Foundation organized an awareness workshop entitled "Self-care in exceptional circumstances".

(A scene from the awareness workshop)

 Family Development Foundation Organizes Workshop on "Self-Care in Exceptional Circumstances"

The Family Development Foundation organized an awareness workshop titled "Self-Care in Exceptional Circumstances and Stress," as part of its "Guidance Guide – Psychological Resilience" initiative, at the Emirates Humanitarian City. This workshop is part of the Foundation's ongoing efforts to enhance psychological and social awareness among various segments of society.

The workshop, which targeted elderly Palestinian men and women residing in the City, addressed several key topics. These included introducing participants to the concept of self-care and its importance in maintaining mental health, reviewing practical strategies for managing stress and coping with daily pressures, and discussing simple practices that help promote psychological balance within the family. The workshop also focused on identifying indicators that warrant seeking psychological support and the available counseling services.

Fatima Al Hosani, Acting Head of the Family Counseling Department at the Family Development Foundation, stated that the workshop emphasized the pivotal role of the family in supporting its members. She stressed that continuous communication and emotional support contribute to fostering a sense of security and stability for all family members. 

She also addressed the importance of supporting children and adolescents through dialogue. Reassurance and care for senior citizens through continuous communication and appreciation of their experience, as well as strengthening family cohesion through role distribution, daily dialogue, and following reliable sources of information.

She emphasized that this workshop is part of a series of integrated initiatives implemented by the Family Development Foundation to empower community members and enhance their preparedness to deal with various life challenges by developing personal and social skills and instilling concepts of psychological resilience and family balance.

She pointed out that these initiatives contribute to raising awareness of positive ways to cope with daily pressures and enhance individuals' ability to make informed decisions that positively contribute to protecting their psychological, familial, and social stability.

She added that the Foundation, through these programs, is keen to provide educational and practical content that meets the needs of society and focuses on building cohesive families capable of adapting to changes, which positively impacts quality of life and enhances the long-term sustainability of family and community stability.

For his part, Khalid Al Kaabi, a social worker at the Family Development Foundation, affirmed during the workshop that daily life is full of psychological, physical, and social pressures, noting that some of them are normal and can be managed. 

Adapting to stress is important, as some situations may exceed an individual's capacity to cope, necessitating the adoption of self-care skills and self-awareness to effectively manage these pressures.

During the workshop, Ibrahim Al Marzouqi, a social worker at the Family Development Foundation, pointed out that self-care practices, such as promoting realistic and positive thinking, taking the initiative to help others, engaging in physical activity, and following healthy eating habits, contribute to mitigating the effects of stress, help maintain emotional and behavioral balance, and enhance psychological resilience in various circumstances.

One of the participants expressed his appreciation to the Family Development Foundation for organizing these high-quality workshops, emphasizing that they provided a rich experience on both intellectual and personal levels. 

He noted that the workshops allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of his family members' needs and how to support them in a more conscious and balanced way. He added that the topics covered and the practical applications presented helped enhance his skills in positive communication and managing daily stress.